Edward Hynes

• Edward Hynes graduated from University College Cork in 2012, having studied Law and French.

• Edward then went on to attain a Masters in Asset Management from Queen’s University Belfast in 2013.

• He completed a training contract with a large international firm, whereby his work focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions and on acting for buyers and sellers across various industry sectors.

• Edward was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2017.

• Since qualification, Edward has regularly advised on corporate reorganisations, shareholder agreements and other commercial arrangements and contracts including agency/franchise/distribution agreements.

• Edward continues to advise a large number of international and Irish-based corporate clients, family-owned businesses and start-ups.

Samuel Elliot

Conor Quane

• Conor Quane graduated with a degree in law from the University of Oxford in 2012, and went on to complete an LLM at Harvard Law School the following year.

• After a two year spell volunteering in a number of refugee camps around the globe, Conor returned to Ireland permanently in 2015 to begin a traineeship with Arthur Cox LLP.

• He was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2017.

• Since then, Conor has advised extensively on domestic and international M&A and financing transactions.

• His clients have included a large number of major multinational companies and state authorities.

Kieran Lardner

• Kieran Lardner graduated from University College Dublin in 2013, having studied Business and Law.

• Kieran completed a three year Masters in Data Analytics in University College Dublin in 2016.

• Kieran holds the following professional diplomas: Technology & IP Law, Sports Law & Commercial Mediation.

• Kieran completed his training contract with McCann Fitzgerald, completing two seats in Mergers & Acquisitions along with a seat in Finance and a seat in Employment.

• Kieran worked with the Legal Technology team during his traineeship, focusing on using analytics to aid decision making and automation to improve firm processes.

• Kieran qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and has spent three years working with the firms corporate department, advising large multinational clients on commercial agreements, mergers and corporate restructuring.

The Location

ELHQ Solicitors has decided to lease an office space in Dublin 2 for a variety of reasons. As previously discussed, situating the office in the heart of Dublin City will provide the most convenient access to aspiring startup businesses as well as international clients who are looking to establish themselves in Dublin. An office space in Dublin City Centre will also provide the Firm with access to the Four Courts and is well-connected to public transport which will allow for ease of access for staff and clients alike. Dublin 2 is perfectly situated in terms of business support services, such as accounting firms and auditors.

ELHQ Solicitors has decided to lease a sixth floor office at Watkins House, Hight Street, Dublin 2.. Conor Quane, Partner, contacted the commercial leasing department at GSP Lettings in search of a suitable office space. GSP Lettings provided a verbal quotation for an office on the sixth floor of Watkins House for an annual fee of €21,600 (exclusive of utility bills), resulting in a monthly expense of €1,800. Despite the requisite amount being slightly above the Partner’s anticipated budget for office letting, it was agreed to lease this office space as there were multiple advantages of doing so.

[ ELHQ Solicitors has agreed to lease the office for an initial period of 18 months with an option to extend for a further 18 months thereafter.

The Space

The office space itself is spacious and comes fully serviced and furnished. It has a floor area of over 1,642 square feet and comprises 2 offices, a boardroom, a private meeting room, toilet facilities and a reception area. There is also a kitchenette which includes a fridge, dishwasher and tea/coffee making facilities. On the ground floor of Watkins House, there is another reception area that is shared with the other offices in the building.

Equipment

The office is fully equipped with desks, chairs, furniture and filing space. Conor Quane has been designated as the Partner responsible for office management. ELHQ has opened an account with Premier Stationery, an office supplies company, who will supply the Firm with all its required stationery and office equipment. Premier Stationery have also been contracted to provide and install six telephone units across the office space.

As regards the space itself, there are two offices which comfortably seat two people each. Each office has two adjustable desks, two swivel chairs and four filing cabinets. These filing cabinets are highly secure and ideally suitable for the storage of Deeds, security and title documents and other highly classified documents.

In the Boardroom there is a large table with eight chairs and the room has floor to ceiling windows for maximum natural light exposure. The private meeting room has a round table ideal for client consultations and a large rectangular window which looks out over St Stephen’s Green.

The Partners also will purchase stackable chairs for in-house CPD lectures and other social in-office events.

Software and Hardware

The office at Watkins House, High Street, Dublin 2 is fully connected to high-speed broadband and telephone lines and so there is no expense involved for ELHQ in this regard. ELHQ has engaged with Safe Wire Limited who will be responsible for all of the Firm’s IT requirements. ELHQ intend on signing a Services Agreement with Safe Wire Limited in respect of the Firm’s entire IT infrastructure. Safe Wire Limited have agreed to provide all the required services required by ELHQ including network security, required software, product-system integration and general IT support and maintenance. This will cost ELHQ an estimated [€XXXXX] per annum.

Covid-19 has highlighted the necessity to work from home efficiently and flexibly. With this in mind, the Partners will each receive a laptop that will allow the Partners to work remotely and, when needed, from home so that ELHQ will always be best placed to properly serve our clients regardless of any unforeseen circumstances. The Firm has decided to purchase four Dell laptops at a price of €XXX each (€XXX overall). The Firm has also decided to purchase four desktop computer units for the use of future support staff at a cost of €XXX each (€xxx overall). As part of its Service Agreement, Safe Wire Limited will be responsible for setting up and maintaining these computers.

Case Management System

[Firm] ELHQ Solicitors has decided to use Legal Partner as its case management software. Safe Wire Limited has previously worked with several law firms who also used Legal Partner and therefore Safe Wire are well versed in this particular case management system. The Partners in ELHQ, having explored several options for a case management system opted for Legal Partner as it is ideally suited for commercial law firms in its makeup and it also provides a three month trial version of the software, which will save the firm [€XXX] in Year 1. Therefore, in the first year ELHQ will pay €XXX for the use of Legal Partner and €XXX per annum thereafter.

Recruitment

It is expected that initially recruitment will be kept to a minimum. However, as [Firm] develops, consideration will be given to expanding support staff and fee earners. In line with our core values, our recruitment process will focus on attracting diverse, talented and motivated candidates.

[Firm] has allocated a number of roles to our founding Partners who have corresponding qualifications suitable to those positions. Where required, [Firm] will fund appropriate courses to assist those Partners and ensure the welfare of our employees.

[Firm] plans to employ one legal secretary and bookkeeper initially, details of which are set out at 8.1.1 and 8.1.2. These positions will be advertised on the law society website (www.lawsociety.ie) and through recruitment websites such as irishjobs.ie. All partners will be consulted and involved in any direct hiring into the firm through the interview process.

Policies and Procedures

Each employee will be provided with a written contract of employment setting out a probationary period of six months. It shall be ensured that all employee contracts comply with the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 to 2014 and the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018. Each employee will also receive the employee handbook which will contain all the core policies and procedures for the firm. A full list of all firm policies is set out in Appendix 4. [Firm] is committed to ensuring the policies and procedures remain adaptable and accessible at all times and reserves the right to amend the provisions of these policies and procedures as required. This is especially important in light of the impact of COVID-19. Our Human Resources department will strive for fast communication and ensure the business has the ability to communicate to all staff if any policy changes are needed at short notice. Our firm employee handbook as well as all training and process manuals will be centrally located on our intranet and appropriate training on these will be provided.

Disciplinary Procedure

[Firm] will ensure implementation of its written Disciplinary and Grievances Policy, ensuring fair procedures are followed at all times. [Partner] will act as the Complaints Officer and will ensure implementation of the Disciplinary and Grievances Policy within the firm. His/her role will include the investigation of and response to all employee complaints.

Training

Training will be the ultimate responsibility of the Human Resources Manager. S/he will ensure that all employees receive training in matters related to the carrying out of their specific functions within the firm. Employee training will take place upon induction and at regular intervals throughout the course of their employment. There will be a focus on training for remote working software to ensure all employees have the ability to utilise the firm’s telecommuting options. [Firm] will also ensure that the CPD plan, as outlined at paragraph 5.8, is carried out. We have allocated €2,500 for all training including CPD expenses per annum.

Hours of Work

Working hours will generally be 9 am – 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday. However, employees may be required to work outside of these hours from time to time. This will be clearly set out in our employee contracts. In line with [Firm]’s flexible working policy, we will encourage our staff to use flexible working arrangements to achieve a better balance between work and other priorities. [Firm] is committed to agreeing any flexible working arrangements and to promoting an inclusive working environment. These arrangement include our flexitime and telecommuting arrangements as set out in the Flexible Working Policy.

Leave

Permanent employees will be entitled to 21 days annual leave. With regard to sickness, any absences in excess of three days must be certified and management reserves the right to request an independent medical examination. Full details of our sick leave arrangements are set out in our Sickness and Absence Policy.The availability of all other types of paid and unpaid leave of absence from work, including maternity leave, adoption leave and parental leave are set out in our Leave Policy.

Health, Safety and Welfare

[Firm] understands the importance of the duty it has to maintain the health, safety and welfare of it’s employees. [Firm] recognises, in particular in light of COVID-19 that this is a dynamic obligation and will ensure compliance with the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as well as any guidance issued by the HSE and Department of Health. [Firm] will ensure that [Office Address] maintains an up-to-date Health and Safety Risk Assessment. [Partner] will act as the Health and Safety Officer and Office Manager for [Firm]. [Partner] holds a certificate in occupational health and safety and is fully trained in CPR and AED.

[Firm] is committed to the welfare of its employees, both physical and mental. We plan to promote the wellbeing of our employees by hosting an annual ‘[Firm] Health and Wellbeing Week’ in which we will raise awareness of the firm’s Prevention and Management of Work Related Stress Policy’. Employees will have the opportunity to avail of a number of firm supports such as our the ‘Bike to Work Scheme’ which will be particularly important for workers in the current climate. We have also partnered with Iveagh Fitness Club in Dublin 8 to provide a 30% gym membership discount to all employees. These will be available following completion of an employee’s probationary period. In addition we have allocated €1,500 toward social activities throughout the year such as the firm Christmas party and other team building activities.

Pay and Benefits

Employees will be paid monthly and all pay slips will be issued electronically. Partners will commence with a salary of €35,000 to be reviewed after Year 1. Employees will also have the opportunity to join [Firm]’s contributory health insurance scheme upon completion of their probationary period.